Bottle-handling apparatus



E. E.' VAN 'cu-:AF

o'r'TLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed nec. l13.. 192e Augy19, 1930. E. E. VANcLEAF 1,773,654 BOTTLE HNDLING APPARATUS Filed nep. 1s, 1928 v ssheds-sheet 2 ATTORNEY Aus 19, 1930. E; x/AN @LEAF 1,173,654

o'rTLE HANDLING-APPARATUS Filed Dac. 13, 1928 3 ASheets-Sheet 3 hllium!!! ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1930 1 UNITED STATES EDWIN E; VANCLEAF, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN BOTTLE-HANDLING APPARATUS Application ledDecember 13,` 1928. Serial No. 325,809.

This invention relates'to certain novel improvements in blpttle handlingapparatus and has for its principal object the provision of an improvedconstruction of this character which will be highly efficient in use andeconomical in manufacture.

The salient object of my invention is to provide a bottle handlingapparatus which will be arranged in a manner such that bottlesreloceived from a filling and capping machine will be inserted intocases adapted to receive the same.

Another object'of my invention is to arrange al mechanism of the abovenamed character in a manner., such that the bottles received will beinserted into the case with their necks extended in a downwardlydirection.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the mechanism in a mannersuch that after a case has been filled the case will be caused to movefrom the machine in order that anew case maybe inserted into position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

l The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which: V

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mechav nism constructed in'accordance with my in- Fig. 2 is a side view of the device looking inthe opposite direction from Fig. 1; 'l

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Figs.1 and 2;

A Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 on Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail view of a cam member employed in thedevice;

y Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail view depicting the connection v betweenthe cam member shown in Fig. 5 and the parts to be operated thereby; Y

Fig. 7 is a. perspective detail View of the bottle receiving member;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail View taken substantially on the line 8-8 onFig. 5'; Fig. 9 is a fragmental detail view depicting the case receivingplatform and the conveyer intended to be associated therewith; and

Fig. 1() is a detail view of a star wheel and cam member employed in thedevice.

In the accomplanying drawingswherein I have illustrated a preferred formof construction for my device 10 and 11 indicate the side frames of theconstruction which in the present instances are formed so as to besubstantially triangular. A shaft 12 extends between the upwardlydisposed apices of the triangular members 10'and11 and has an enlargedportion at one end thereof so as to be properly retained in position.Mounted on the Shaft 12 intermediate -`the end members 10 and 11 is mylimproved bottle receiving member `which is generically indicated by14'.

The bottle receiving member 14 is very clearly illustrated in Fig. 7andby referring to this figure it may be seen that this bottle receivingmember comprises two parallelly extending partitions 15 and 16.Extending upwardly from the partition 15 intermediate the ends thereofare partition members 17 and 18 which are spaced apart and whichco-operate with the partition 15 to define a compartment19. Partitionmembers 2O and 21 extend outwardly from the partition member 16 and arespaced apart and co-,operate with the partition 16 to define acompartment 22. Disposed between the partitions 15 and 16 are partitionmembers 23 and 24 which are aligned with the partitions 17 and 2() andy18 and 21 respectively and the partition 23 cooperates with thepartitions 15 and 16 to define a compartment 25 and the partition 24co-operates with the partitions 15 andv 16 to define a compartment 26.It is therefore apparent that four compartments are defined which areindicated by 19, 25', 22 and 26 and these vcompartments are preferablydisposed at a ninety degree angle with respect to each other.Strengthening braces are provided at the ends of the partitions andextend between the partitions defining the bottle receivingcompartments. The edge of these braces are rounded so that the crosssectional outline of the member 14 is substantially circular.

Suitably j'ournaledl in the device is a shaft member 27 which hasarranged thereon exteriorly of the frame member a power receiving member28 which in the present 1nstance is in the form'of a. gear which `isintended-to receive power from a pinion mounted on the shaft of a motor,these last named mechanisms not being shown inl the drawing as it is tobe understood that any suitable power supplying arrangement might beprovidedas for example a belt and pulley structure. Mounted on theouterface of the gear 28 is a pin member 29. Mounted on the shaft 27exteriorly of the gear 28 is a cam member 30which has a depression 31.formed in the periphery thereof that is adapted to be aligned with thepin 29. Mounted on the outer end of the shaft .12 is a star wheel 32which comprises circular portions 33 on the periphery thereof that areadapted to bear. on the periphery of the member 31 and arrangedintermediate the circular portions 33 are slots 34 which extend radiallyinto said star wheel 32.

The gear 28 is intended to .be rotated in a counterclockwise directiontherefore when the pinion 29 moves into position such that passage intoone of the slots is possible," it being apparent that at this time thedepression 31 vwill be aligned with the projecting .portions of thecurved surface 33, said pin will travel through said slot and impartmovement in a clockwise direction to the star wheel 32 which willimparta similarly directed movement to the shaft 12 and therefore to themember 14.

' My improved device is intended to be -as-` sociated with a bottlingand capping machine or with a. capping machine either of which machinesinclude a delivery conveyer that is embryonically illustrated in Fig. 3and indicated by 35. At the upper end portion of the side frame 11 asubstantially circular member 36 is provided which has a cut awayportion 37. `The conveyer 35 is adapted to be Extending valigned withthe lower edge 38 of the cut away portion -37 and therefore afterthebottles are delivered from the capping -machine along the conveyer theywill be forced over the edge 38 into one ofthe compartments inthe member14. in the present instance the compartment 19 being disposed at such aposition.

At the upper end of the side frame 10 a substantiall between thecircular portions 36 and 39 is a substantially cylindrical wall Y member40 which will be described more fully hereinafter. The bottles are fedyinto the compartment 19 ina manner well understood in the art. Thenwhen the hereintofore men-V tloned movement is imparted to the starwheel 32 the compartment 19 will be moved from the position A in Fig. 4into the position B and as soon .as the bottles start their movementthey will engage the .inner surface of the cylindrical member 40 andwill thus be recircular member 39 is provided.`

tained in thc compartment 19. This movement of-the star wheel 32 willnext move the compartment 26 into the position A in order that saidcompartmentwill receive the bottles fed over the portion 38 from theconveyer 35. It ,is to be understood that the operation of my machinewill be synchronized with the operation of the capping machine in orderthat the hereintofore mentioned movement of the member 14 will occur atatime when a predetermined number of bottles have been moved into thecompartment in the posi tion A..

After the star wheel 34 has been moved so as to move the compartment 19from the position A to the position B and afterthe compartment 26 in theposition A has been filled with bottles the star wheel 32 will again bemoved and therefore the compartment 19 will move into the position C onFig. 4 and `slide blocks 45 are mounted. A bar 43 extends between theblocks 45 below the platform 42 in spaced relation thereto. A shaft 77extends between the blocks and through the platform 42 and pivotallyconnects the platform to the blocks. A bar 45a extends between the sidesof the platform below the shaft 77 and a stop 46tt depends from the bar45". The stop 46a engages the bar 43 and serves to limit pivotalmovement of the platform 42 about the shaft 77. A spring-46 ex' tendsbetween the rear end of the platform 42 and one of the blocks 45 asclearly illustrated in Fig. 4. This spring 46 serves'to act on theplatform to urge the same into pivotal movement about the shaft 77 whichis limited by the stop 46 and in this manner the platform 42 is normallyheld in horizontal position. 4 I

A guide member 48 is provided which is i' supported on rollers and othersuitable meclianisms from the side members 10 and 11 for movementtransversely of said side members. The guide member 48 is providedwithtransversely extending partitions 49 which divide spaces 50, therebeing an equal number of these spaces as there are transverse rows ofbottle receiving openings in the case 41 -into which `rows of openingsthe necksof the bottles are adapted to be inserted. Extending betweenthe partitionsv 49v are partitions 51 which divide the spaces 50 into aplurality. of compartments or guideways of a number 'equal to the numberof bottles which the the arms 62B.

member 14 receives in each of the compartments defined therein.

At the start of the operation the first of the transverse rows isaligned with. the position C.v They will move fromthe opening 19 throughthe guideways defined by the partitions 49 and 51 and they will thus beguided into the first row of openings in the case 41. The bottles will.be inserted into the case with their necks projecting downwardly asthey will automatically assume this position by travel around the member40 lwhich they disengage just prior to their movement into the position0. In order to advance the second row of spaces 50 into alignment withthe position C I provide the following mechanisms. A c

A shaft 52 is journaled in the side frames 10 and 11 and a star wheel 53is mounted thereonwhich has circular portions 54 on the Y peripherythereof that are adapted to bear against thesurface ofthe cam wheel 30.Radial openlngs 55 are provided in the star wheel 54 which aresubstantially similar to the openings 34. As the gear Wheel 38 rotatesin a counter-clockwise direction the pin 29 will enter into one of theslots 55 that is disposed in the proper position and a quarter turnmovement will be imparted to the star wheel. 53. The cutaway portion 31von the cam will move into position to permit clearance of the higherportions of the curved surfaces 54. It is apparent from the foregoingdue to the counter-clockwise direction of rotation of the gear 28 thestar wheel 53 will have a quarter turn movement imparted thereto in acounter-clockwise direction prior to the time that such movement isimpartedr to the star wheel 32.

-Mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 52 from that carrying the starwheel 53 is a cam 56 which has a cam groove 57 provided therein in whichthe cam follower 58 is adapted to travel. Formed on the forward end ofthe guide member 48 are projections` 59 .which have links 60^pivotallyconnected thereto. A shaft 6'0a is mounted in the proecting portions61'a as clearly illustrated in 1g. 1. Depending from the shaft 60 arearms 62a and the free ends of the links 60 are pivotally connected tothe free ends of The shaft 60 has. an arm 61 connected to the endportion thereof arv ranged in juxtaposition to the cam 56 andthe'follower 58 isconnectedto the free end of the arm 61. It is apparentthat the quarter turn step-by-step movement imparted to the starrwheel53 will impart a similar movement to the shaft 52 and, therefore, to thecam 56. Due to the disposition of the follower 58 in the cam groove 57this movement will be imparted through the arm 61 to the shaft 60andthence throu h thev arms 62" and the links- 60 to the mem er 48 whichwill move the member 48 in a manner such that the second ofthe.ope11,ingsd50 willv .an sucesbe aligned with the position sivemovements imparted to the cam will properly position lsuccessive of theopen-v ings 50. v

Extending into the frame defined by the side braces 10 and 11 is aconveyer member 62 which is preferably arranged so as to slopedownwardly, and which terminates below on: end of the latform 42 wheninthe described position. t is intended that when the case 41 has beenlled to capacity that the platform y p 42 be tilted into alignment withthe conveyer.

62 in order that the case 41 will move by gravity from the platform 42onto the conveyer 62, it being that the upwardly disposed ends thereofwill be disposed below theA lower edge of the guide member 48. Thistilting of the platform is accomplished in the following manner.

Associated with the star wheel 53 on the shaft 52 is a cam member 63. Asubstantially so' i understood that the bottles lwill pass into the case41 a distance suflicient L-shaped link structure 64 is provided whichincludes an armo65 that extends vertically up past the shaft 52 andwhich is pivotally connected on the lug 61". An -arm 66 completes thestructure 64 and is carried by' brackets 66a. An arm 68 extendssubstantially parallel to the arm 65. To the lower lend of the arm 68 Ipivotally connect one end of anY arm 69 as indicated at 70. The arms 66and 68 are interconnected by a spring 78 and the arms 6 6 and 65 areinterconnected by the spring and lug structure 67. A U-shaped bracket onthe arm 66 surrounds the arm 68 and the sprin 78 holds these partstogether. The spring 67 holds arm 65 in engagement with cam 63. The arm69 is pivotally connected to the slide'block 45 as vindicated at 71 andthe arm 69 is also pivotally mounted as indicated at 72. On the free endof the arm 69 I provide a weight member 73. An arm '74 similar to thearm 69 is provided on the opposite side of the machine and a weight 75is mounted on this arm. The arm 74 is pivotally mounted as indicated by76 and is.

'pivotallyeonnected to the slide block 45 on with bottles. l

' At the timev the guide member 48 is positioned so as to guide thebottles into the last row of openings in the case and after this action,has been completed the pin 29 will engage the-projection 79 and movethe arm 68 ownwardly and obviously inwardly until disengagement takesplace as above set forth. Downw'ard movement of the arm 68 will impartdownward movement to the block since the arm 69 will be pivoted aboutapsupport therefor and, therefore, at the same time the arm 7 4 will bepivoted downwardly. This downwardmovement imparted to the blocks lo 45moves the platform 42 downwardly and after moving a predetermineddistance the platform 42 engages the stop 80 which is lsupported fromthe shaft which provide the pivotal connections 72 and 76. Upon engageument with the stop the forward end of the platform will be tilted intoalignment with the conveyer 62 and the filled cases are, therefore,passed down the conveyer 62. The conveyer 62 and platformV 42 arepreferably of o the roller type construction so as to facilitate thismovement of the full case.' The weights 73 and 7 5 counterbalance theweight of a full case and, therefore, when the case moves from theplatform 42 these Weights will act through u the arm connected to themto reposition the platform 42. Prior to this time the cam 56 will havebeen actuated so as to retract guide 48 to its first position. A newcase will have been slid into position below the guide mem- U0 ber 48from the supply conveyer 81 and the parts will againvbe in position torepeat the hereintofore described operation.

lWhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Havingthus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is: L

1. In a device of the'character stated, a frame member, a member in saidframe member having a plurality of compartments provided therein adaptedto receive articles when in a predetermined position, means forimparting a step-by-step movement to said member-whereby to move saidcompartments from a. receiving position to a delivery position, meansfor retaining said articles in said compartments during said movement,means for supporting a receptacle adapted to receive said articles,means for guiding said articles from saidcompartments into saidreceptacle, means for imparting step-by-step movement to said guidingmeans whereby different portions of said receptacle may be moved intoposition below said articles delivery position, 4said last named meansbeing adapted to reposition said guiding means `said receptacle has beenfilled for causing said after said receptacle has been filled anddischarged from said device.

2. In a device of the character stated, a frame member, a member in saidframe member having a plurality of compartments provided therein adaptedto receive articles when in a predetermined position, means forimparting a step-by-step movement to said` member whereby to move saidcompartments from a receiving position to a delivery posir tion, meansfor retaining said articles in said d compartments during said movement,means for supporting a receptacle adapted to receive said articles,means'for guiding said articles from said compartments into saidreceptacle, means for imparting step-by-step movement to said guidingmeans whereby diii'erent'portions of said receptacle may be moved intoposition below said articles delivery position, said last named meansbeing adapted to reposition said guiding means after said receptacle hasbeen filled Vand discharged from said device, means adapted to act onsaid receptacle supporting means after 9o receptacle to move fromreceiving position.

3. In a device of the character stated, a frame structure, a memberhaving'a plurality of compartments-provided therein adapted to receivearticles, means for imparting step-by-step movement to said member,means for actuating said last named means, means for supporting areceptacle, means for guiding articlesfrom said compartments into saidreceptacle, means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said guidingmeans adaptedto be .actuated by the same means for actuating said firstnamed step-by-step movementimparting means.

4. In adevice of the character stated, a frame structure, amember havinga plurality of compartments provided therein adapted to receivearticles, means for imparting step-by-step movement to said member,means l for actuating said last named means,means for supportinga-receptacle, means for. guiding articles from said compartments intosaid receptacle, means for imparting a step-bystep movement to saidguiding means adapted to be actuated by the same means for actuatingsaid first named step-by-step movement imparting means, and means forcausing said receptacle to move from said device when filled witharticles from said compartments, said last named means being adapted tobe actuated by said actuating means.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

EDWIN E. VAN CLEAF.

